Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-12
WASHINGTON.
Commissioner Morrison Says he Could
Suggest Some Changes i'm the Inter-
State Commerce Law.
ship BuiIders are Backward in Applying
for Information Regarding the New
Cruisers to be Built.
MORRISON STILL A PoLITICJA :.

Special to the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-InterS State
Commerce Commissioner Morrison says
Congress at the next session will IN
doubtedly amend the law which he is
dispensing, and that he himself could
suggest some changes which would be Of
advantage, but doubts whether Congress
would take him at his word for 1t since he
has retired from that body. The Colonel
declares he is as much Of politician
now as ne ever was, however.
NAVY CONTRACTS GO A-BEGGING.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE backward
ness of the shipbuilders in applying for
information az 10 the plans and specifca-
tions for the new navy cruisers is
causing considerable apprehension among
the navy officers, and it is feared that
the number of bids TO be opened on the
LIST of August will be very small. Thus
far there has been but enc inquiry for
information about the plans for the nine
teen-knot cruisers-that of the Union
Works OF San Francisco, and full
set OF drawings and specifications have
been mailed TO them. 1t is not certain,
however, that they will submit bid un-
Ill they have examined the plans in de
tail. Not gn inquiry has yet been re-
ceiyed as 70 the Newark and there does
not seem to be any disposition on
the part of ship builders
to undertake her construction
ct the maximum cost allowed by
Congress, $1,000, 0o0, The two l7QQ-ton
gunb0Gts Will probably be constructed
by Cramp & .Sons IF Philadelphia. That
firm is now engaged in the construction
Of gUnboat NJ, !, and as Nos. : and are
10 BE Ct the same pattern they will
have an advantage over all other
builders that will probably enable them
10 secure the contract. The reasons for
this baCkwardness at the Navy Depart
ment is attributed TO the rapidly inCreas-
lug cost Of material. The supply of ma
teTiSl, particularly the steel plates used
in constructing these vessels, is at pres
ent very limited, and every contract
lot for g new vessel still further increases
the prices. There is also large private
demand for steel, and it is said thst the
contractors for furnishing steel for thel
vessels now being constructed are aDTI.
iouB to have their Plates rejected because
even after the steel mas been rejected by
the government inspectors it brings g
higher price in the market than the con-
tract price.
THE PRESIDENT AT WORK,
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE President
resumed the usual routine at the White
House 20 day and devoted most OF the
Ggv TO consideration of matters which sc
cumulated during mis- absence. Among
the visitors were Secretary FalrchildI
Postmaster General Villas, Secretary En-
dic0tt, Adiutaut- General Drum and Mr..
Doran of Minnesota.
TEXAS PENSIONERS.
Special to the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, June ll.-TeXas pen
sious were awarded to-day to
Sarah, widow Of Samuel II.
Boorue, Tyler; Mary, widow of Lewis
Babcock, Brackettsviue; @. II. Hudson,
Fairview; William Hudson, Sandusky;
Andrew Lengsweier, San Antonio; Sam
uel Bell Mexey Paris; Thomas j. Stone,
ClebUrne; John Wilson, Lockhert; VIII
liam G.. Wood, COrsicana.
GARLAND's BIRTHDAY.
WASHINGTON, June ll.-AttOTney-G Gen
eral Garland is fifty-hve years old to-day,
and he celebrated the event by going on
fishing expedition snort
distsnce in the country.